Now that everyone’s been gathered together for a campout, courtesy of last week’s episode, this week’s installment of TONIKAWA gets the party started. But if you were expecting an ensemble episode with all the characters getting into shenanigans, you’d only be half right. Most of “On a Moonlit Night” focuses heavily on Nasa and Tsukasa’s marriage, and the topic of marriage in general. While it means everyone else is virtually forgotten after the opening scenes, it does allow for some of the season’s most romantic moments, so in many ways it helps the episode more than it hurts it. Additionally, it’s strongly suggested that some of Tsukasa’s secrets are close to being revealed, which we can guess will probably turn everything on its head.
“On a Moonlit Night” unfolds in stages, starting with a big party and eventually ending with Nasa and Tsukasa alone in their tent—basically, from excess and activity to more inward-turning intimacy, and it’s an effective way to structure the episode. The opening scenes are about as excessive as you can get, as Tokiko hosts a big barbecue dinner for everyone (complete with food stands!), and capped off with Kaname’s big tribute to Nasa and Tsukasa’s marriage. Kaname’s presentation features a hilarious montage of still images and animations summarizing how Nasa and Tsukasa met, complete with a reenactment of Nasa getting hit by the truck. But Nasa and Tsukasa’s reactions are in line with what we’ve seen all season long: Nasa revels in the public celebration of his marriage, while Tsukasa is embarrassed and cagey.
Nasa and Tsukasa’s contrasting reactions are even more pronounced when Kaname invites them onto the stage to give a speech—this is their “wedding reception,” after all. Nasa takes the plunge, expressing his love for Tsukasa and thanking everyone for supporting them as they continue their journey. I’m not sure Nasa would have been able to publicly profess his love like this in previous episodes, but his sincerity as he speaks really drives home how dedicated he is to his wife. The fact that Tsukasa doesn’t give a speech of her own, though, reflects how self-conscious she still is about being married. It only gets more uncomfortable for her when Kaname brings out a gigantic wedding cake, and Tokiko puts a veil over her head for good measure. The final shot of the scene speaks volumes: as they cut the cake, Nasa is wide-eyed and smiling, while Tsukasa winces and blushes, wishing for the whole celebration to end.
Later that night, while most of the group plays with fireworks, the episode takes a more serious turn as Nasa and Tsukasa discuss the significance of marriage. This is where “On a Moonlit Night” captivates the most, particularly the scene by the lake where Tsukasa reflects on how people’s love can last beyond their own lifetimes. It’s a beautifully staged moment, with a full moon and fireflies hovering around Tsukasa as she talks, and a meaningful engagement with some of the show’s core themes of love and human connection. As a bonus, these middle scenes continue to hint at Tsukasa’s more mysterious history with Tokiko without revealing too much, nudging things forward just a bit while setting up a revelation in the near future.
The final part of “On a Moonlit Night” lightens things up as Nasa and Tsukasa head back to the glamping tent Kaname and Tokiko arranged for them, and when Nasa sees there’s just one large bed for them to share, he has only one thing on his mind (hint, hint). These final interactions recall the “will they or won’t they” comedy of the hot springs arc earlier this season. Even if it’s well-trod territory, it effectively conveys these two are on the cusp between adolescence and adulthood, but still haven’t quite made the transition. Nasa’s stumbling advances and utter confusion, with his mind racing on about “code words” that adults use to initiate sex, are especially amusing. The awkwardness is also reinforced by a clever visual: the two sit on the bed and drink soda from Champagne glasses, complete with the soda bottle in a bucket of ice—an absurd image that’s somehow completely fitting.
Still, I appreciated the ambiguous ending this time around. While previous episodes kept Nasa and Tsukasa close, but not too close, “On a Moonlit Night” hints that this time, something more intimate might have occurred when they finally go to bed together. The fact that the episode can suggest this in the most PG way possible is a small achievement of its own. But in many ways, it’s just par for the course for TONIKAWA: slow, quiet, subtle, and intimate without being overly graphic or uncomfortable. For all the good things their marriage has brought them, though, Tsukasa’s secrets and mysterious nature still require answers, and as much as we may want this to be “happily ever after,” there’s a lurking sense with each passing week that something might really be amiss.
You can watch season 2 of TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You on Crunchyroll, and vote for it in our weekly poll.
©Kenjiro Hata, Shogakukan / Tonikaku Kawaii Production Committee